A good read

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre

2003's Booker Prize Winning book is a powerful commentary on today's trial-by-media culture in the US. The story is told by 15-year old Vernon whose colourful language and engaging style makes it a fantastic read. Some of his expressions had me howling though his 'Texanese' (term not my own) took a bit of getting used to.

Vernon is the sole survivor of a murderous rampage carried out by his classmate Jesus on his class (akin to the Columbine disaster) and is promptly framed as a co-conspirator. He pleads innocent in the face of mounting evidence against him. Some of it his own blundering confessions. There were times when I could not read on for fear of what poor Vernon was leading himself into. He is surrrounded by a host of dysfunctional beings headed by his very own mother and her motley group of friends. The ending is not hard-to-predict but telling it here would be a spoiling the fun. Vernon's biting sarcasm and the devastatingly funny humour is a rare treat and certainly not one to miss. Two thumbs up, Vern!